UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: STRENGTHENING OF THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS
8 December 2023
Statement by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Thank you, Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
The events of 2023 have devastated lives and livelihoods around the globe. Multiple, intersecting and complex crises are stretching humanitarian organisations to their limits.
The ongoing conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories has claimed a harrowing number of civilian lives, including those of United Nations and humanitarian workers.
Australia reaffirms calls for the protection of civilian lives. Australia reaffirms the call for safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to enable lifesaving assistance to reach affected civilians, including food, fuel, water, medicine and other essential supplies.
In the year ahead, we will continue to face ever-compounding challenges – acute food and water insecurity, fragility, record levels of displacement, and the impacts of climate change, including increasingly intense disasters.
It is a deeply challenging prospect and will require sustained and increased humanitarian assistance. Australia remains committed to working in partnership with the United Nations and others to provide lifesaving assistance to those most in need.
But the system is under immense pressure, and humanitarian assistance alone is not the solution. We, the humanitarian community, must collaborate with others and embrace new and better ways of working.
We must ensure our responses are fit for purpose, right-sized, better coordinated, and help local communities build back better.
We must invest in a multi-hazard, cross-sectoral approach to disaster risk reduction, preparedness and resilience building.
We must respond in a way that protects development gains and helps deliver prosperity and stability. And in doing so, ensure that gender equality and disability inclusion are at the heart of our efforts.
We must find political solutions and hold warring parties to account for violations of international humanitarian law and develop more joined-up solutions that focus on addressing the root causes of conflict and crises.
I conclude today with Australia’s thanks to the humanitarians around the world who continue to work tirelessly in the back offices and on the front lines, to deliver urgent assistance to millions of people in need. Thank you.